Feature Comparison
Loop stands out among macOS window management tools with its unique combination of features, intuitive radial menu, and completely free, open-source nature.Information was gathered from each app’s official website and other online sources and may be outdated. If you notice any inaccuracies, please open an issue or contact the maintainers.
Quick Comparison
Price
Loop is completely free and open source
Radial Menu
Unique radial menu for intuitive window control
Theming
Extensive theming options unavailable in competitors
Detailed Feature Matrix
The table below compares Loop with 15 other window management solutions for macOS.Special thanks to the Definitive MacApp Comparisons spreadsheet.
Pricing & Licensing
| Feature | Loop | macOS 15+ | Rectangle Pro | Rectangle | Magnet | Moom | Swish | BetterTouchTool | Multitouch | Hammerspoon | Yabai | Amethyst | AeroSpace | 1Piece | Wins | MacsyZones |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free | $9.99 | Free | $4.99 | $15.00 | $16.00 | $14.00 | $15.99 | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | $13.99 | Free |
| Open Source | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Core Functionality
| Feature | Loop | macOS 15+ | Rectangle Pro | Rectangle | Magnet | Moom | Swish | BetterTouchTool | Multitouch | Hammerspoon | Yabai | Amethyst | AeroSpace | 1Piece | Wins | MacsyZones |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Frames | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Preview Window | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Theming Options | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Padding / Margins | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Input Methods
| Feature | Loop | macOS 15+ | Rectangle Pro | Rectangle | Magnet | Moom | Swish | BetterTouchTool | Multitouch | Hammerspoon | Yabai | Amethyst | AeroSpace | 1Piece | Wins | MacsyZones |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modifier + Mouse | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Modifier + Arrows | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Modifier + Trackpad | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Trackpad Gestures | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Snap via Drag | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
Advanced Features
| Feature | Loop | macOS 15+ | Rectangle Pro | Rectangle | Magnet | Moom | Swish | BetterTouchTool | Multitouch | Hammerspoon | Yabai | Amethyst | AeroSpace | 1Piece | Wins | MacsyZones |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stashed Windows | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Save Workspace | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Action Sequences (Cycles) | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Restore Initial Frame | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Pin Windows On Top | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Resize Adjacent Windows | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Multi-Screen & Focus
| Feature | Loop | macOS 15+ | Rectangle Pro | Rectangle | Magnet | Moom | Swish | BetterTouchTool | Multitouch | Hammerspoon | Yabai | Amethyst | AeroSpace | 1Piece | Wins | MacsyZones |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move Windows Across Screens | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Switch Focus Between Windows | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Automation
| Feature | Loop | macOS 15+ | Rectangle Pro | Rectangle | Magnet | Moom | Swish | BetterTouchTool | Multitouch | Hammerspoon | Yabai | Amethyst | AeroSpace | 1Piece | Wins | MacsyZones |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scripting (URL / AppleScript) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Loop’s Unique Advantages
Loop offers several features that set it apart from the competition:Radial Menu
Only Loop and MacsyZones offer modifier + mouse control, and Loop’s radial menu is unique and intuitive
Theming Options
Only Loop offers extensive theming for both radial menu and preview window
Free & Open Source
Loop is completely free with no paid upgrades, and fully open source under GPLv3
Stashed Windows
Unique stash feature shared only with Rectangle Pro and Hammerspoon
Cycles
Powerful action sequences supported by only a handful of competitors
No Tracking
Completely privacy-focused with no analytics or tracking
Choosing the Right Tool
Best for beginners
Best for beginners
Loop and Rectangle are excellent choices for beginners due to their simple interfaces and intuitive controls. Loop’s radial menu provides visual feedback that makes learning window management easier.
Best for power users
Best for power users
Loop, Hammerspoon, Yabai, and BetterTouchTool offer the most flexibility for power users. Loop combines ease of use with advanced features like cycles and automation.
Best for trackpad gestures
Best for trackpad gestures
Swish, BetterTouchTool, Rectangle Pro, and Multitouch excel at trackpad gesture support. Loop focuses on modifier + trackpad rather than complex gestures.
Best for tiling window managers
Best for tiling window managers
Yabai, Amethyst, and AeroSpace are dedicated tiling window managers for users who prefer automatic window layouts. Loop focuses on manual control with visual feedback.
Best for automation
Best for automation
Loop, Hammerspoon, Yabai, BetterTouchTool, and Rectangle Pro offer the most automation capabilities. Loop’s URL scheme makes it easy to integrate with external tools.
Best value
Best value
Loop, Rectangle, Hammerspoon, Yabai, Amethyst, AeroSpace, and MacsyZones are all completely free. Loop stands out as the only free option with a radial menu and extensive theming.
macOS Native Window Management
macOS 15 (Sequoia) introduced native window tiling features:macOS 15+ includes basic window tiling via drag-to-edge snapping and keyboard shortcuts. However, it lacks many features found in Loop such as:
- Radial menu interface
- Custom window positions
- Action cycles
- Stashed windows
- Theming options
- Advanced automation
Detailed Comparisons
Loop vs Rectangle
Loop vs Rectangle
Similarities:
- Both free and open source
- Keyboard shortcuts for window management
- Preview windows
- Drag to snap
- Basic action cycles
- Radial menu for mouse/trackpad control
- Extensive theming options
- Custom window frames
- Stashed windows
- More customization overall
- More mature/stable (longer development history)
- Simpler interface for keyboard-only users
Loop vs Rectangle Pro
Loop vs Rectangle Pro
Rectangle Pro is the paid version of Rectangle ($9.99).Loop advantages:
- Completely free (Rectangle Pro costs $9.99)
- Radial menu
- Theming options
- Trackpad gestures
- Save/restore workspaces
- Resize adjacent windows
- More polish and refinement
Loop vs Magnet
Loop vs Magnet
Magnet costs $4.99.Loop advantages:
- Free vs $4.99
- Open source
- Radial menu
- Theming options
- Custom frames
- Stashed windows
- Action cycles
- More keyboard shortcuts
- Trackpad gestures
- Simpler interface
Loop vs BetterTouchTool
Loop vs BetterTouchTool
BetterTouchTool costs $14.00 and is a comprehensive input customization tool.Loop advantages:
- Free vs $14.00
- Focused on window management
- Radial menu
- Theming options
- Simpler to configure for basic window management
- Extremely comprehensive customization
- Trackpad gestures
- Keyboard shortcuts beyond window management
- Touch Bar support
- Mouse gestures
- Pin windows on top
Loop vs Hammerspoon
Loop vs Hammerspoon
Hammerspoon is free, open source, and script-based.Loop advantages:
- GUI configuration (no Lua scripting required)
- Radial menu
- Theming options
- Preview window
- Easier for non-programmers
- Unlimited customization via Lua scripting
- Can control entire macOS system, not just windows
- Save/restore workspaces
- More powerful for advanced users comfortable with coding
Loop vs Yabai
Loop vs Yabai
Yabai is free, open source, and a tiling window manager.Loop advantages:
- GUI configuration
- Radial menu
- Preview window
- Theming options
- Easier to learn
- Manual control over window placement
- Automatic tiling layouts
- Pin windows on top
- More suited for keyboard-driven workflows
- Resize adjacent windows automatically
Summary
Loop provides the best balance of:- Ease of use with the radial menu and visual feedback
- Power and flexibility with keyboard shortcuts, cycles, and automation
- Customization with extensive theming options
- Value as a completely free, open-source solution
Try Loop
Install Loop and experience elegant window management for yourself.